lt is one of the most haunting photos in the Edmonton Journal archives: a picture of Thomas Svekla, dressed in a green camouflage jacket and tinted round sunglasses, smiling tauntingly at the camera, his finger held to his lips. “Shhhh,” he seems to be saying. “I’ve got a secret.”

Solo sojourn to San Diego coast for TLC

Alone but not lonely, discovering life's finer things

The first of many solitary indulgences, champagne at sunset on the balcony of the La Valencia Hotel, a very pink-coloured palace with an 85-year history.

Photograph by: Alexandra Staseson
, for Postmedia News

I believe there's a stark difference between loneliness and solitude, and that practicing the latter cures the former. I needed to be alone, but I also needed to play, have fun and feel life's romance again. When San Diego came a-calling with the motto, "Happy Happens" I hopped on a plane down the coast to triple-dog-dare/allow myself a little TLC adventure on my own. My guide to The La Jolla and San Diego coastal gems can ensure one's re-commitment to excitement in life. Get ready for a trip where there is no end to passion, whether you put the 'man' in romance or not.

LA JOLLA

Translated from Spanish means, 'the jewel' and this neighborhood lives up to its name. The queen bee of La Jolla is La Valencia Hotel, a pepto-coloured palace that winks across the water to those strolling the shores below, she has been hostess to lovebirds, high-rolling peacocks and ladybugs like me since 1926. (I stayed in a private luxury villa overlooking the ocean.) The excellence and warmth of staff was the most prominent feature among its many beautiful Mediterranean-inspired accents. My first solitary indulgence was a glass (read frosty-silver-ice bucket) of champagne on my balcony at sunset. And after making like a starfish for my king-sized deep sleep, I awoke to the best alarm clock possible; the collective "urf-urf-urfing" of sea lions at the shore. I was delighted to find the newspaper, coffee and fresh strawberries at my door as I slid into sunlight at the poolside. Here I was, single and lonely in paradise. NOT!

At Brockton Villa for breakfast, I discovered the truth about their "world-famous French toast". Conclusions: 1) Best French toast I've had in my life. 2) Gentle suitors take heed: my copy of the recipe could be considered a fine dowry in some countries.

The majestic La Jolla coastline cliffs are true north for any leisure lover and are a pedestrian's paradise. Upon my enquiring about car rentals, the young bellman assured me with his shaggy-blonde-California voice "All you need here is a pair of Chevrolegs!".

Along gallery-speckled streets I strutted solo to The Cave Store, a hole-in-the-wall where for a few bucks I could literally enter a hole in the wall and venture down 100 feet of dank, dark slippery, musty stairs to Sunny Jim's Cave where water level meets cliff's hollow. I took a few scary breaths and entered darkness. The reward of saltwater ecstasy greeted me at the bottom as daylight pierced through the blackness revealing La Jolla's stunning coastline.

To refuel all the energy I burned off stair climbing I headed to world-renowned Addison at the luxurious Grand Del Mar Resort, where I was wined by prominent Sommelier Jesse Rodriguez as he walked me through pairings to compliment the award-winning cuisine of Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef William Bradley. The fact that my purse was brought it's own chair (a first for me and I'd imagine many people also) was just one of the golden touches to an evening that I have since declared as the most perfect dining experience I've ever had.

OTHER LA JOLLA MUSTS

La Jolla Playhouse has some of the most progressive theatre in America. Torrey Pines Golf Course is atop the cliffs with Pacific Ocean views and was home to the 2008 U.S. Open. A hike through eight kilometres of the Torrey Pines State Reserve will create room for another taste of the exquisite at The Marine Room as prepared by Executive Chef Bernard Guillas and Chef de Cuisine Ron Oliver, best-selling authors of The Flying Pans.

ENCINITAS

About as classic of a California coastal town as it gets, Encinitas is a laid-back, surf's-up blast from the past. With world famous Swami's Beach inspiring the good vibrations of Beach Boys tunes and boasting infamous swells for recreationados along the shoreline, the namesake ashram of Swami Paramahansa Yogananda rests in peace above the cliffs and is celebrating this year the 150th anniversary of Kriya Yoga. It is a sanctuary for anyone who wishes a true retreat in silence to simply be with themselves in the nature Swami worked so passionately to preserve. Yogananda, author of best-selling Autobiography of a Yogi, was the first to bring the Vedic Sciences and Yoga from India to the West.

I spent a day and night at the ashram in complete silence to see what my spirit had to say about this little adventure of mine (it concurred), and then I spent a few hours meditating in the gardens above Swami's beach where he strolled daily. After the ashram I re-caffeinated at legendary Recording Studios/Coffee Shop, Surf Dogs Java Hut, where Kerouac would've have written a novel dedicated to barista of the gods, Esteechu; the living, breathing she-Google of Encinitas who hang-loosely pointed me forward.

SOLANA BEACH

This local-focused town (where the down to earth water-babies swimming in money live) had me strolling with enchantment through shabby-chic boutiques that were not too shabby, garden-market heaven and tasting all of the olive oil I could handle along Cedros Avenue. This design district oozes local green ethos, adding value to the already pricey au currant musthaves. I had a coffee and gourmet PB&J sandwich at the charming Lockwood Table Café, where vertical gardens growing on the patio provide the salad greens. A stop in at Aaron Chang Surf Gallery evoked inspiring chat with one of the most talented pro surf photographers out there. A refuel at Pizza Port, a local legend for prime slices and micro-brewsky had me tasting beer on a surfboard for the perfect finish.

SOME GOOD IN CARLSBAD

35 miles north of San Diego is not too far to go to encounter seven miles of coastline and feel like an absolute princess with no strings attached. I gave myself the gift of thousands of flowers at Carlsbad Flower Fields. If there is any place where Sloopy would have granted the request and finally let her hair down it would have been here. Endless rows of tulips and roses are among the kaleidoscope of unforgettable colours. This place had me feeling somewhere between the Yellow Brick Road and Donovan's Mellow Yellow, it was an absolute stunner of an attraction.

At Chuao Chocolatier, SoCal's premier artisan chocolate, I handmade chocolate and paired it with wine while hosted by world-renowned Master Chef Michael Antonorsi. My hands got obey gooey in hot wet chocolate while I made a batch of sassiness; Chuao's signature "Firecracker".

WATER YOU DOING?

La Jolla and nearby coastlines beckon those who like me, live for the ocean. I kayaked La Jolla Cove, through surf and sea lions, exploring the stunning caves that crown the coastal jewel town from the inside out! To surf like a true siren of the sea, I hit up Surf Diva, the surf shop where twin sisters Coco and Izzy Tihanyi created the world's No. 1 surf school for females and have been empowering fearless riding from beginner to competitive levels ever since.

I now have proof that loneliness turns to loveliness in San Diego. Romance, love and passion are all around and even though strikingly single, I found myself, as C.S. Lewis put it, being "Surprised By Joy" even on my own.

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